Two crucial run outs slowed Sri Lanka’s momentum in the third one-day international against South Africa at Chevrolet Park on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, trailing 0-2 in the five-match series, made a competitive 266 for nine but it might have been considerably higher if their two star batsmen -- Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene -- had not been run out, both by direct hits.

Upul Tharanga (58) and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) put on 94 for the first wicket.

Sangakkara, batting at number three, looked set to take full advantage of the good start on an easy-paced pitch as he stroked his way to 38 off 37 balls. But Sangakkara fell to a superb piece of fielding by Faf du Plessis, who dived far to his left at backward point to stop a cut by Dinesh Chandimal, then hit the stumps at the batsman’s end with
Sangakkara stranded after the batsmen hesitated.

Jayawardene was run out for 15 when he was sent back by Chandimal, slipped as he turned and could not recover to beat an accurate throw from Colin Ingram at mid-off.

Chandimal was out for 36 three overs later when he mistimed a pull against Morne Morkel and was caught.

score board

SRI LANKA

Tharanga c Ingram b Peterson    58
Dilshan c Steyn b Duminy    33
Sangakkara (run out)    38
Chandimal c Smith b M Morkel    36
Jayawardene (run out)    15
N Kulasekara b M Morkel    40
Mathews c Petersen b Tsotsobe    15
K Kulasekara (run out)    19
Malinga b Steyn    2
Herath (not out)    1

Extras (LB-1, NB-1, W-7)    9

Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs)    266

Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-102, 3-154, 4-183, 5-192, 6-220, 7-259, 8-262, 9-266
Bowling: M Morkel 9-0-65-2, Tsotsobe 10-0-40-1, Steyn 10-0-55-1, Duminy 5-0-26-1, A Morkel 2-0-9-0, Peterson 10-0-45-1, Du Plessis 4-0-25-0.